Inconvenient truths

 

An Alberta filmmaker talks about an upcoming short, and her experience in the film industry

By Nerissa McNaughton

 

STORYHIVE is a community-funded program that helps bring creative content from British Columbia and Alberta to light. One of STORYHIVE’s funded projects is a short movie called Inconvenient, in which a young woman ponders her feelings as she works through her shift at run down convenience store. Inconvenient is currently in production. The film’s editor and assistant director, Daryn Tessier, spoke to Whitecourt Press about her involvement the film.

 

“Many elements drew me to Inconvenient as a project,” says Tessier. “I’ve worked with the director, Cassandra Paige, before on a short film (Mending with Gold) and her work always features women’s stories with female leads. Inconvenient is not only that, but also has the style Cassandra and her crew usually produce, lots of saturated colourful lighting and omniscient camera work. This project also has animation, which will be new for me to work with as an editor, and I’m excited to add that to my skill set as a filmmaker. The fact that it is being produced under Telus STORYHIVE is fantastic, as we can make Inconvenient our best work so far and show everyone what our stories have to offer.”

 

Tessier enjoys her career in the film industry, “I am a theatre and film graduate from Red Deer College. Most of the crew of Inconvenient were also from there. I started as an actor but also found I loved editing for post-production while I was getting my degree. Previously, I’ve been the editor for Early (Best Film by an Emerging Filmmaker; Jasper Short Film Festival 2015) and Cassandra Paige’s previous film Mending with Gold (Best Experimental Film; Edmonton Short Film Festival 2015). I also edit for an ongoing YouTube channel, Thagomizers, which is in its second season and focuses on Palaeontology and its related art and culture.”

 

There is stiff competition to win funding through STORYHIVE. “When I found out we had been voted in as a STORYHIVE winner I was ecstatic! I had to keep rechecking to see if it was real! Being an artist, it can be difficult to make your work when you have no funding, and winning the funding gives us a chance to bring Inconvenient’s story to life the best we can. I am also extremely grateful to all the people who supported us and voted to get us to one of the winning slots; we wouldn’t be able to make this film without them.”

Tessier speaks to the importance of women in the film industry. “In general, women make up a minuscule amount of film directors, and in Canada it’s no different. Women make up half the voices on the planet, and when we can’t hear those voices, we’re missing half of the planet’s stories. Film is great way to share meaning and experiences with each other; without women’s experiences represented, film is creatively limited to the male experience.

 

“My advice for female Canadians going into film is that if you’re not seeing what you want to see on the screen, don’t be afraid to make it yourself. Get other filmmakers passionate in your idea, and work together to get it out there. If you love what you make, and keep making each project better than the last, the more people will notice what they’ve been missing out on. It may take a while, and it can be really hard at times, but it’s worth it to see your idea changing people in their theatre seats.”

 

Visit www.storyhive.com/project/show/id/1617 to learn more about Inconvenient and like the film’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Inconvenientfilm) to keep up with its progress to the big screen.